NEW YORK — The Columbia men's soccer team (1-2-1) closes out a run of four-straight matches against in-state opponents on Saturday when it visits LIU (3-2-1). First kick from LIU Soccer Park in Old Westbury is set for 3 p.m. ET.
 
Fans can catch all of the action live on NEC Front Row. Live stats will be provided by LIUAthletics.com
 
Here are five things to know heading into Saturday's matchup.
 
 
#1 | NATIONAL LEADERS
Junior goalkeeper Michael Collodi ranks among the NCAA's top 50 in save percentage, heading into Saturday at No. 13 with a save percentage of .889. As a team, the Lions are also among the top 50, checking in at No. 48 (.778). Collodi, junior Matthew Goodman and first-year Andreas Zamanian have all seen action between the posts this season.
 
In the Ivy League, Collodi's .401 goals against average leads all league counterparts, as does his .889 save percentage.
 
 
#2 | ONE GOAL MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Despite an 0-1-2 record over their last three matches, the Lions have been within a goal of either winning or drawing all three of those matches. In the 2-2 draw with Manhattan, the Lions took a season-high 17 shots with eight coming on goal. They were just inches from winning the match on multiple occasions, including a shot off the foot of Brian Timoney that hit the crossbar and a header from Will Todd that was saved off the goal line during overtime.
 
In Columbia's two losses to Stony Brook and St. John's, the Lions allowed just one goal but were unable to come up with one of their own. Both goals came in the final three minutes of the first half. The goal against Stony Brook came after a foul in the box resulted in a red card for Columbia and a converted penalty kick for the Seawolves. St. John's scored off a corner kick in the 43rd minute on Monday and held off Columbia's threats down the stretch.

Tremendous photo of the first career goal for one of our seniors, Will Todd.

📸 Dave Janosz#RoarLionRoar @NCAASoccer #NCAASoccer #Goal #Soccer @IvyLeague pic.twitter.com/jRLy4l3zs9

— Columbia Mens Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) September 13, 2021

#3 | ROAD BLOCK
Columbia is still in search of its first taste of success on the road this season. Although they haven't yet found a result, the Lions have battled tough with a pair of one-goal losses, each by a score of 1-0, away from home this season against Stony Brook (Sept. 6) and St. John's (Sept. 13). If history is any indication, perhaps Saturday will have something in it for the Lions, who are 2-0-1 in their last three trips to LIU – each of the last three came in Brooklyn before the two campuses merged.

 
#4 | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Saturday marks the fourth straight match Columbia plays against in-state opponents. The Lions began the stretch Sept. 6 at Stony Brook, where they fell 1-0, before returning home to host Manhattan College last Friday, drawing the Jaspers, 2-2. This past Monday, Columbia visited St. John's out in Queens, contesting a highly competitive matchup that ultimately resulted in a 1-0 victory for the Red Storm.
 
Including their home opener against George Washington on Sept. 3, the Lions play their first 10 matches of the season in New York state. Columbia doesn't travel out of state for a contest until Oct. 16 when it heads to Princeton. In total, only two matches this season (Princeton, Dartmouth) take place outside of the New York state.
 
 
#5 | THE OPPONENT
LIU (3-2-1) is coming off two-consecutive home victories, including a 3-2 triumph over La Salle on Wednesday. The first half saw four goals between the two sides to go into the break at 2-2. Matthias Heiland sent home the eventual game-winner in the 60th minute. He is one of five different goal scorers for the Sharks this season. Emil Jaaskelainen leads the team with three goals and an assist.
 
There shouldn't be any surprises between the posts on Saturday. Demetri Skoumbakis has started all six matches and played every minute in goal for the Sharks. Skoumbakis carries a 0.80 GAA with 18 saves and a .783 save percentage.
 
Two years ago, the Lions and Sharks met for the first time since 2014. LIU was formerly split between LIU Brooklyn and LIU Post before the Brooklyn and Brookville athletic departments merged over the summer of 2019. Seven years ago, Columbia walked out of Brooklyn 3-2 winners, coming back from a 2-1 deficit with second-half goals by Ron Zori and Jack Gagne. Columbia leads the all-time combined series 19-12-4, which includes all games against the Brooklyn and Post campuses.
 
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For the latest on Columbia men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsMSOC), on Facebook (ColumbiaMensSoccer), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.